Feeding interactions and growth of salmon parr and sculpins in a sub-Arctic river

The coexistence of sculpins and salmon parr in a wide range of river habitats gives rise to examine the realised ecological niche of sympatric species along different scales of resource diversity as benthos and habitat, and may display new mechanisms in s pecies coexistence. In this project growth, food niche and niche overlap in Siberian Sculpin and Atlantic salmon parr will be studied at different fish densities, habitats and benthos-diversity in a sub-Arctic river. Data will be related to competitive in teractions by estimating actual growth rate of salmon parr against optimal growth predicted from modelling. Data will be approached both during field sampling and experimental cage-studies. The results will be related to predictions made from niche and op timal foraging theories.